Package that includes a plurality of disposable absorbent articles

ABSTRACT

Some example embodiments of the present invention relate to a package that includes a bag and a plurality of absorbent articles that are stored within the bag. The bag includes a plurality of sidewalls and a bottom portion that is connected to each of the sidewalls. The bag further includes a resilient member that extends through each sidewall such that the resilient member forms an adjustable opening in the bag. In some forms, the absorbent articles are diapers that are folded and arranged in a parallel configuration within the bag. Some other example absorbent articles include diapers, feminine hygiene articles, pull-ups, incontinent pads and training pants (among others). The package is able to adequately store disposable absorbent articles once the package has been opened. Therefore, the package eliminates the labor which is typically required to move the disposable absorbent articles from the opened package to another container.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation under 37 C.F.R. 1.53(b) of U.S.application Ser. No. 11/107,075 filed Apr. 15, 2005, which isincorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof.

FIELD

The present invention relates to a package, and more particularly to apackage that includes a plurality of disposable absorbent articles.

BACKGROUND

Many different types of packages are used to store disposable absorbentarticles. Most conventional packages store disposable absorbent articlesin a manner that makes it difficult to use the package to store thedisposable absorbent articles once the package is opened. Therefore, thedisposable absorbent articles are often transferred from the package toanother container once the package is opened.

One of the drawbacks with conventional packages is that additionaleffort is required to transfer the disposable absorbent articles fromthe package to another container. In addition, the extra container maytake up valuable space within an area where the disposable absorbentarticles are stored.

Another drawback with conventional packages is that they are typicallyunable to change size. Therefore, these types of packages become toolarge to properly store the disposable absorbent articles as some of thedisposable absorbent articles are removed from the package. As anexample, if half of the disposable absorbent articles are removed fromthe package, the remaining half of the disposable absorbent articles maybe left to flop around in an unnecessarily large package.

In addition, there are often times when it is desirable to transport areduced amount of disposable absorbent articles from one location toanother. Since most packages are unable to change size, they are usuallynot well suited to transport differing amounts of disposable absorbentarticles from one location to another.

Accordingly, there is a need for a package that is able to adequatelystore disposable absorbent articles once the package has been opened.The package should also be able to change size such that the package isable to properly store the disposable absorbent articles even as some ofthe disposable absorbent articles are removed from the package.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a package that includes a plurality ofdisposable absorbent articles. The package is able to adequately storedisposable absorbent articles once the package has been opened. Inaddition, the package allows a user to adequately store differingamounts of disposable absorbent articles.

In one aspect, the present invention relates to a package that includesa bag and a plurality of absorbent articles that are stored within thebag. The bag includes a plurality of sidewalls and a bottom portion thatis connected to each of the sidewalls. The bag further includes aresilient member that extends through each of the sidewalls such thatthe resilient member forms an adjustable opening in the bag.

In some forms, the absorbent articles are diapers that are folded andarranged in a parallel configuration within the bag. Some other exampleabsorbent articles include diapers, feminine hygiene articles,incontinent briefs, pull-ups, incontinent pads and training pants (amongothers).

The package is able to adequately store disposable absorbent articlesonce the package has been opened. Therefore, the package eliminates thelabor which is typically required to move the disposable absorbentarticles from the opened package to another container.

In another aspect, the present invention relates to a package thatincludes a bag having a plurality of sidewalls and a bottom portionconnected to each sidewall. The bag further includes a resilient memberthat extends through each of the sidewalls at a top end of eachsidewall. The resilient member forms an adjustable opening within thebag.

The system further includes a plurality of absorbent articles that arestored within the bag. A portion of each absorbent article extendsthrough the opening in the bag and is outside the bag. The resilientmember compresses the plurality of absorbent articles such that theresilient member contracts as each absorbent article is removed from thebag. Since the resilient member is able to change size, the package maybe used to transport differing amounts of disposable absorbent articlesfrom one location to another.

In some sample forms of the package, the resilient member may be anelastic band. The elastic band may close the bag when none of theabsorbent articles are positioned within the adjustable opening in thebag.

In yet another aspect, the present invention relates to a package thatincludes a bag and a plurality of absorbent articles that are storedwithin the bag. The bag includes a plurality of sidewalls and a bottomportion that is connected to each of the sidewalls. The bag furtherincludes a resilient member that extends through each sidewall such thatthe resilient member forms an adjustable opening in the bag. The systemfurther includes a wrapping that encloses the bag and the plurality ofabsorbent articles.

In some sample forms of the package, the wrapping is a shrink-wrappingthat is formed onto the bag and the plurality of absorbent articles. Thewrapping may be formed of a transparent material that permits inspectionof the bag and the plurality of absorbent articles.

The purposes and features of the present invention will be set forth inthe description that follows. Additional features of the invention willbe realized and attained by the product and processes particularlypointed out in the written description and claims hereof, as well asfrom the appended drawings.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and are intended toprovide further explanation of the invention claimed. The accompanyingdrawings, which are incorporated in and constitute part of thisspecification, are included to illustrate and provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be more fully understood, and furtherfeatures will become apparent, when reference is made to the followingdetailed description and the accompanying drawings. The drawings aremerely representative and are not intended to limit the scope of theclaims. Like parts depicted in the drawings are referred to by the samereference numerals.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example package of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another example package of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another example package of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another example package of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the package shown in FIG. 3 with some ofthe disposable absorbent articles removed form the package.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the package shown in FIG. 5 with more ofthe disposable absorbent articles removed form the package.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another example package of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description references the accompanying drawingswhich show some example embodiments of the present invention. Theseembodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilledin the art to practice the invention. It is to be understood that otherembodiments may be utilized, or structural changes may be made, suchthat the detailed description should not to be regarded as limiting thescope of the claims.

FIG. 1 illustrates a package 10 that includes a bag 11 and a pluralityof disposable absorbent articles 12 that are stored within the bag 11.The bag 11 includes a plurality of sidewalls 14 and a bottom portion(not visible with the Figures) that is connected to each of thesidewalls 14. The bag further includes a resilient member 16 thatextends through each of the sidewalls 14. The resilient member 16 hassome elasticity such that the resilient member 16 forms an adjustableopening 17 in the bag 11.

It should be noted the package 10 may include other conventionalelements that allow the package 10 to be opened in some manner. Thepackage 10 has the ability to adequately store the disposable absorbentarticles 12 once the package 10 has been opened. The ability of thepackage 10 to store the disposable absorbent articles 12 eliminates thelabor that would otherwise be required to move the disposable absorbentarticles 12 from some other package to another container.

As used herein, the term absorbent article refers to devices whichabsorb and contain body exudates. The absorbent articles are designed tobe placed against the body of a wearer such that the absorbent articlesabsorb and contain the various body fluid or exudates which aredischarged from the body. Disposable absorbent articles are absorbentarticles which are not intended to be laundered or otherwise reused asan absorbent article (i.e., they are single use devices). Some exampledisposable articles include diapers, feminine hygiene articles,incontinent briefs, pull-ups, incontinent pads and training pants (amongothers).

In the example package 10 that is illustrated in FIG. 1, the pluralityof absorbent articles 12 are diapers 12 that are folded and arranged ina parallel configuration within the bag 11, although otherconfigurations and orientations that facilitate storing the diapers 12within the bag 11 are contemplated. In some embodiments, each of thedisposable absorbent articles 12 may include an individual wrapper orbag (not shown in the Figures) which contains one of the respectiveabsorbent articles 12.

FIG. 1 shows that the resilient member 16 may extend through each of thesidewalls 14 at a top end 18 of each sidewall 14. It should be notedthat other embodiments are contemplated where the resilient member 16extends through each sidewall 14 at some area other than the top end 18of each sidewall 14 (see, e.g., resilient member 16 in FIG. 2).

The resilient member 16 may be any device that has some elasticity. Theamount of elasticity will depend on the type and size of bag 11 and thetype and size of absorbent articles 12 that are used in the package 10.In some embodiments, the resilient member 16 may be an elastic band thatfully closes when the resilient member 16 is in a relaxed state. Theresilient member 16 may then be expanded to form the opening 17. Inother embodiments, the resilient member 16 may form a relatively smallopening when the resilient member 16 is in a relaxed state.

Although the bag 11 may be made from any conventional material (e.g.,polyethylene), the appropriate material will be determined by theparticular needs of an application for the package 10. It should benoted that a portion (or all) of the bag 11 may be transparent tofacilitate observing the absorbent articles 12 within the bag 11. Inaddition, the bag 11 may include any number of sidewalls 14 (foursidewalls are shown in the Figures). In some embodiments, the bottomportion of the bag 11 may be a bottom wall that includes one or moreexpandable gussets (note that the bottom portion of the bag 11 is notvisible in the Figures).

A comparison of FIGS. 1 and 2 with FIGS. 3 and 4 demonstrates that insome embodiments, the diapers 12 may be entirely within the bag 11(FIGS. 1 and 2), while in other embodiments, a portion 19 of each diaper12 is outside the bag 11 (FIGS. 3 and 4). It should be noted that when aportion of each diaper 12 is outside the bag 11 the size of the opening17 may be determined in part by the number of diapers 12 that are withinthe opening 17.

FIG. 3 shows an example embodiment where the resilient member 16 extendsthrough each of the sidewalls 14 at a top end 18 of each sidewall 14.FIG. 4 shows an alternative example embodiment where the resilientmember 16 extends through each sidewall 14 at some area other than thetop end 18 of each sidewall 14.

In the example embodiments that are illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, theresilient member 16 compresses the diapers 12 such that the resilientmember 16 secures the diapers 12 within the bag 11. Since a portion 19of each diaper 12 is extending through the opening 17, a user is able toeasily grasp a portion 19 of a particular diaper 12 when they want toremove the particular diaper 12 from the bag 11.

FIG. 5 shows that the resilient member 16 contracts as some of theindividual diapers 12 are removed from the bag 11. Therefore, theopening 17 in the bag 11 becomes smaller as more diapers 12 are removedfrom the opening 17.

FIG. 6 shows that the opening 17 may close completely when more of thediapers 12 are removed from the bag 11 and the remaining diapers 12 areoriented such that they are within the bag 11 but not within the opening17. It should be noted that the opening 17 may also close completelywhen all of the diapers 12 are removed from the bag.

As discussed above, in some embodiments the resilient member 16 may notclose completely when all of the diapers 12 are removed from the opening17. The opening 17 may be sized such that it is small enough to preventone or more diapers 12 from falling out of the bag 11.

Since the resilient member 16 is able to expand and contract, thepackage 10 is able to change size. As shown in FIG. 6, the package 10may be used to transport disposable absorbent articles 12 from onelocation to another. It should be noted that since the resilient member16 is able to change size, the package 10 is able to adequatelytransport differing amounts of absorbent articles.

FIG. 7 shows that the package 10 may further include a wrapping 20 thatencloses the bag 11 and the plurality of absorbent articles 12. In someembodiments, the wrapping 20 may be a shrink-wrapping that is formedonto the bag 11 and the plurality of absorbent articles 12. The wrapping20 may initially be removed from the package 10 to open the package 10such that the bag 11 subsequently serves to secure the absorbentarticles 12 by itself.

It should be noted that the wrapping 20 may be formed at least in partof a transparent material that permits inspection of the bag 11 and theplurality of absorbent articles 12. The size and shape of the wrapping20 will depend on the applications where the package 10 may be used(among other factors). As examples, the wrapping 20 may enclose theentire bag 11 and absorbent articles 12, or portions of the bag 11 andabsorbent articles 12.

FIGS. 1-7 are representational and are not necessarily drawn to scale.Certain proportions thereof may be exaggerated, while others may beminimized.

The packages described herein may eliminate (i) the labor that istypically required to remove absorbent articles from a package; and (ii)the need for an extra container to store the absorbent articles oncethey are removed from the package. The packages may also have theability to change size such that the packages may be used to transportdiffering amounts of disposable absorbent articles from one location toanother.

While the invention has been described in detail with respect to thespecific aspects thereof, it will be appreciated that those skilled inthe art, upon attaining an understanding of the foregoing, may readilyconceive of alterations to, variations of, and equivalents to theseaspects which fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention,which should be assessed accordingly to that of the appended claims.

1. A package comprising: a bag that includes a first sidewall, a secondsidewall, a third sidewall, a fourth sidewall and a bottom portionconnected to the first sidewall, the second sidewall, the third sidewalland the fourth sidewall, the bag further including a resilient memberthat extends through the first sidewall, the second sidewall, the thirdsidewall and the fourth sidewall such that the resilient member forms anadjustable opening in the bag; and a plurality of absorbent articlesstored within the bag.
 2. The package of claim 1 wherein the pluralityof absorbent articles are diapers.
 3. The package of claim 2 wherein thediapers are folded.
 4. The package of claim 3 wherein the diapers arearranged in a parallel configuration within the bag.
 5. The package ofclaim 1 wherein each of the absorbent articles is completely within thebag such that the absorbent articles are removed from the bag byexpanding the resilient member.
 6. The package of claim 1 wherein thebottom portion of the bag has a rectangular shape.
 7. The package ofclaim 6 wherein the first sidewall, the second sidewall, the thirdsidewall and the fourth sidewall each have a rectangular shape.
 8. Thepackage of claim 1 wherein the resilient member extends through thefirst sidewall, the second sidewall, the third sidewall and the fourthsidewall at a top end of the first sidewall, the second sidewall, thethird sidewall and the fourth sidewall.
 9. The package of claim 1wherein the resilient member is an elastic band.
 10. The package ofclaim 1 wherein the resilient member does not filly close the bag whennone of the diapers are positioned within the opening.
 11. The packageof claim 1 wherein the resilient member closes the bag when none of thediapers are positioned within the opening.
 12. The package of claim 1wherein the bag is formed of polyethylene.
 13. The package of claim 1wherein the bag is formed of a transparent material.
 14. The package ofclaim 1 wherein the resilient member compresses the plurality ofabsorbent articles such that the resilient member contracts asindividual absorbent articles are removed from the bag.